Interlocking lath



March 31, 1942.

F. JoKlsc'H INTERLOCKIG LATH Filgd June 2o, 1939 Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNETED STATES :PATENT UFF-ECE.

2,278,077 INTERLOGKING LATH `Fay Jockisch, Inglewood, Calif.,

assigner of Calif.

Application June 20, 193i?,v Serial No. 214,634

(Cl. 'Y2- 124) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to interlocking lath, particularly that type of lath known to the trade as Button lath used as a foundation over studding and adapted to be covered by plaster.

An object of my invention is to provide an interlocking Alath in the form of slabs having interlocking tongue and groove edges whereby when secured over studding for application of plaster is entirely free of continuous cracks or joints, even though the courses of lath slabs are positioned without staggering; that is, with the ends of the lath slabs of the succeeding courses in alinement.

A further object is to provide a lath slab which although incorporating an interlocking feature is no more diioult to install than the conventional button lath, but is actually easier to install.

A still further object is to provide an interlocking lath slab which is no more expensive of manufacture than conventional button lath.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in a form I at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of a room showing my interlocking lath applied to the walls.

Fig. 2 is a plan View oi one of my interlocking lath slabs.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a wall covered by my interlocking lath and coated with plaster, said sectional view showing an end of a lath slab in elevation.

My interlocking lath is in the form of a slab l of uniform thickness comprising a core 2 of gypsum or analogous material and coverings on opposite sides of porous paper 3. The edge along one side is provided with three lips 4 spaced by reentrant portions 5, the reentrant portions being wider than the lips. The end lips are spaced inwardly from the ends of the slab and the notched portions continuing therefrom to the ends` of the slab and when combined are equal to one intermediate reentrant portion 5.

Along the opposite edge, the conditions are reversed; that is, three reentrant portions 1 are provided equal in dimensions to the lips 4, these Similarly, one end is provided with a centered Y lip 9 anked by recessed portions It and the opposite end is provided with a centered reentrant portion Il anked by ribs l2 whereby one end, designated generally by C fits into the other end designated generally by D.

The lath slabs l may be nailed onto studding 2| with both their ends and edges in alinement as indicated by the wall 22, without forming continuous cracks either longitudinally or vertically. However, if desired the junctions between ends of different courses of slabs may be staggered as indicated by the wall 23. In this connection it should be noted that each slab is designated to cover three conventionally spaced studs, and the relationship of lips or ribs and reentrant portions are such that the junctures between slabs when staggered automatically come opposite one or the other of the intermediate studs. Also, because of the tongue and groove arrangement between ends of lath the studding may vary a greater amount from their standard spacing and still be capable of receiving nails driven in through the tongues or ribs. In other words, it is customary to space the studding sixteen inches on center and construct lath in four feet lengths.

Consequently, with conventional lath, there is only approximately one inch overlap between the ends of the lath and studding; but with my special construction an overlap of one inch plus the depth of the tongues or ribs is provided.

I claim:

1. A wall construction comprising spaced studding, and sections of lath slabs secured to said studding, each oi said slabs being provided along one horizontal edge with a plurality of tongues separated by grooves of greater extent than said tongues, and along the opposite edge with a plurality of tongues approaching in dimensions the grooves of the former edge, and which latter tongues are separated by grooves approaching in dimension the tongues of said former edge; said slabs also being provided on one vertical edge with a tongue and on its opposite vertical edge with a groove adapted to receive a tongue of an adjacent slab member; the said tongues and grooves of the smaller dimensions on said horizontal edges being so spaced relative to said slab that they are positioned between adjacent studding, and the tongues on the vertical edges of the slab being positioned to overlap substantially the entire width of the studding to which it is secured.

2. A rectangular slab adapted to be secured to conventionally spaced studding, said slab having tongue and groove edges, said grooves on one longer edge between adjacent tongues being substantially twice the length of said adjacent tongues, said tongue and groove edges being so positioned relatively that when adjacent courses of suoli slabs are secured with their respective edges interlocking, their ends come opposite a studding traversed by the slabs of an adjacent course, and the tongues on said edges extend approximately to the opposite edge of the studding which it traverses and to which it is secured, and the grooves on said longer edge at the ends of said slab being approximately the same length as said tongues.

3. A lath slab having along one longer edge a plurality of tongues separated by grooves of greater extent than said tongues, and along the opposite edge a plurality of tongues of a length approximating the length of the grooves of the former edge, and said tongues being separated by grooves fitting the tongues of said former edge, and having tongues and grooves at the corners thereof of substantially the same extent.

4. A lath slab adapted to be secured to conventionally spaced studding, and including a body having around its periphery a continuous series of alternate tongues and grooves so spaced that when slabs are placed end to end in courses and stacked edge to edge upon each other in adjacent courses, the end as well as the side edges of said slabs interlock whereby the cracks between adjacent slabs therebetween are discontinuous, and the body and tongues on the slab ends being adapted when secured to said studding, to overlap substantially the entire Width of the studding to which it is secured.

FAY JOCKISCH. 

